Hot Springs National Park
Arlington Trail
FamiliesWheelchair UsersCasual Walkers
0 mi Distance
10 min Estimated Time
Out & Back Trail Type
What to Expect
The Arlington Trail is less a hike and more a handshake between the historic Arlington Hotel and the broader Hot Springs trail network. Starting from the hotel's back entrance, the paved path climbs a barely perceptible grade through dense southern hardwoods — a sudden shift from the bustle of Bathhouse Row to the quiet of the wooded hillside. The canopy closes quickly overhead, and within a minute you feel genuinely away. The trail is smooth and wide enough for a stroller or wheelchair, and the 13-foot elevation change won't register in your legs. Its real value is as a gateway: it deposits you at the Lower Dogwood Trail junction, where the real wandering begins. This one is made for hotel guests who want a taste of the woods before breakfast, families with small kids, and anyone who wants to step off the sidewalk without committing to a workout.
Trail Details
Estimated Time 10 min
Trail Type Out & Back
Pets Dogs allowed (leash required)
Season Year-round
Trailhead Arlington Trail
- 1
Stop at the Arlington Hotel front desk before heading out — staff can point you to the exact trailhead entrance and tell you current conditions on Lower Dogwood, which is where most people continue.
- 2
If you plan to extend beyond this trail onto Lower Dogwood or Hot Springs Mountain Trail, carry water before you leave the hotel — there are no water sources on the hillside trails.
- 3
Early morning offers the best light filtering through the hardwood canopy and the quietest stretch of Bathhouse Row as your backdrop before you enter the woods.
Photos
NPS Photo/Mitch Smith
